One white man on the platform in South Carolina asked us where we were going--we had got off the train to get some fresh air and to dust the grit and dust out of our clothes. When we said Africa he looked offended and tickled too. Niggers going to Africa, he said to his wife. Now I have seen everything.
In Alice Walker's "The Color Purple," a white man in South Carolina reacts with surprise and mockery when he encounters Black individuals who have just arrived by train and express their intention to return to Africa. His demeanor reflects a mix of offense and amusement, as he cannot comprehend or accept the idea of Black people wanting to travel to their ancestral homeland.
This moment underscores the racial tensions and absurdities during the time, illustrating the man's disbelief at the notion of Black people asserting their identity and heritage. The statement reveals the ignorance and prejudice that existed, highlighting the struggles faced by Black individuals in reclaiming their roots in a society that often dehumanized them.
